Liner for tungsten/silicon dioxide interface in memory

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor wafer assembly includes a base of dielectric. A layer of silicon is deposited thereover. A metal hard mask is deposited over the silicon. A dielectric hard mask is deposited over the metal hard mask. Photoresist is deposited over the dielectric hard mask, whereby a plurality of sacrificial columns is formed from the layer of metal hard mask through the photoresist such that the sacrificial columns extend out from the silicon layer. An interface layer is disposed between the layer of conductive material and the layer of hard mask to enhance adhesion between each of the plurality of sacrificial columns and the layer of conductive material to optimize the formation of junction diodes out of the silicon by preventing the plurality of sacrificial columns from being detached from the layer of silicon prematurely due to the sacrificial columns peeling or falling off.

BACKGROUND ART

The invention generally relates to a structure used to enhance the integrity of devices formed on a semiconductor wafer. More particularly, the invention relates to a structure used to enhance the integrity of devices formed generally perpendicular to a semiconductor wafer.

Devices made from semiconductor materials are used to create memory circuits in electrical components and systems. Memory circuits are the backbone of such devices as data and instruction sets are stored therein. Minimizing the amount of natural resources and space consumed by memory circuits is a primary motivation in the designing of such circuits. As the design of memory circuits has moved from two-dimensional designs to three-dimensional designs, more emphasis is being made to minimize the space required to build structures, while maintain the integrity and strength of same, which becomes more important as more elements are incorporated into a space, the greater the cost in having to replace that component should one element therein fail.

Electrical connections between dielectric layers and electrical components of an integrated circuit are required to be strong. Likewise, the electrical components themselves must be strong enough to endure harsh environmental conditions during continued manufacturing processes and a subsequent use life. Therefore, the connections between the electrical components and the wafer must be strong.

Countering the principal of strength is the requirement to make electrical components smaller and more compact with respect to each other. As the electrical component gets smaller to accommodate the compression requirements, the electrical component is weakened. Hence, the ability to maintain the electrical component on the semiconductor wafer is reduced, resulting in a higher rate of failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A semiconductor wafer assembly includes a base of dielectric. A layer of silicon is deposited thereover. A metal hard mask is deposited over the silicon. A dielectric hard mask is deposited over the metal hard mask. Photoresist is deposited over the dielectric hard mask, whereby a plurality of sacrificial columns is formed from the layer of metal hard mask through the photoresist such that the sacrificial columns extend out from the silicon layer. An interface layer is disposed between the layer of conductive material and the layer of hard mask to enhance adhesion between each of the plurality of sacrificial columns and the layer of conductive material to optimize the formation of junction diodes out of the silicon by preventing the plurality of sacrificial columns from being detached from the layer of silicon prematurely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of the invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art nonvolatile memory cell formed without the inventive structure nor using the inventive method;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a first memory cell of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 a through 3 d are cross-sectional side views illustrating steps in the process of forming conductive rails by a subtractive method;

FIGS. 4 a through 4 d are cross-sectional side views illustrating steps in the process of forming conductive rails by a Damascene method; and

FIGS. 5 a through 5 g are cross-sectional side views of a semiconductor wafer through the steps in the process of forming elements using the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,952,030, issued to Herner et al. and entitled “High-Density Three-Dimensional Memory Cell,” hereinafter the “'030 patent” and hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a nonvolatile memory cell, generally indicated at 20, including a vertically oriented junction diode 22 and a dielectric rupture antifuse 24 interposed between top 26 and bottom 28 conductors. The vertically oriented junction diode 22 includes a heavily doped semiconductor layer 30 of a first conductivity type, an intermediate layer 32 which is undoped semiconductor material or lightly doped semiconductor material, and a heavily doped semiconductor layer 34 of the second conductivity type. The semiconductor material of the junction diode 22 is generally silicon, germanium, or an alloy of silicon and/or germanium. The junction diode 22 and the dielectric rupture antifuse 24 are arranged in series between the bottom conductor 28 and the top conductor 26, which may be formed of a metal such as tungsten.

The term junction diode is used herein to refer to a semiconductor device with the property of non-ohmic conduction, having two terminal electrodes, and made of semiconducting material which is p-type at one electrode and n-type at the other. Examples include p-n diodes and n-p diodes, which have a p-type semiconductor material and an n-type semiconductor material in contact, such as Zener diodes, and p-i-n diodes, in which an intrinsic (undoped) semiconductor material is interposed between the p-type semiconductor material and the n-type semiconductor material.

In the initial state of the memory cell 20 of FIG. 1, very little current flows through the junction diode 22 when a read voltage is applied between the top conductor 26 and the bottom conductor 28. The antifuse 24 impedes current flow, and in most embodiments, the polycrystalline semiconductor material of diode 22 is formed in a relatively high-resistive state, as described in a United States patent application having Ser. No. 10/955,549, “Nonvolatile Memory Cell Without a Dielectric Antifuse Having High- and Low-Impedance States,” filed by Herner et al. on Sep. 29, 2004 and hereinafter the “'549 application”; and United States patent application having Ser. No. 11/148,530, “Nonvolatile Memory Cell Operating by Increasing Order in Polycrystalline Semiconductor Material,” filed by Herner et al. on Jun. 8, 2005 and hereinafter the “'530 application,” both hereby incorporated by reference. The application of a programming voltage between the top conductor 26 and bottom conductor 28 causes dielectric breakdown of the antifuse material, permanently forming a conductive path through the antifuse 24. The semiconductor material of diode 22 is altered as well, changing it to a lower-resistive state. After programming, a readily detectable current flows between the top conductor 26 and the bottom conductor 28 upon application of a read voltage. In this way, a programmed cell can be distinguished from an unprogrammed cell.

Referring to FIG. 2, a portion of a first memory level 36 of memory cells 20 similar to the cell 20 of FIG. 1 is shown. Two, three, four, or more such memory levels may be formed, stacked one atop the other, to form a monolithic three dimensional memory array, preferably formed above a semiconductor substrate such as a monocrystalline silicon wafer, and described in the '030 patent and the '549 and '530 applications.

Features in semiconductor devices such as the memory cell 20 are generally formed either by subtractive or by Damascene methods. In a subtractive method, a material is patterned and etched into a desired shape. Gaps are then etched between features and filled with dielectric. In a Damascene method, features are formed by forming voids in dielectric, then filling those voids with conductive or semiconductor material.

For example, to form metal rail-shaped conductors using the subtractive method, as shown in FIG. 3 a, a metal layer 40 is deposited, and a layer of photoresist 42 is spun onto it. As shown in FIG. 3 b, the layer of photoresist 42 is then photolithographically patterned into the desired form. As shown in FIG. 3 c, an etch step removes portions of the metal layer 40 where it is not protected by etched photoresist layer 42. As shown in FIG. 3 d, after the etch, the photoresist layer 42 is stripped, leaving metal rails 40 behind, with gaps between the rails 40, which can be filled by a dielectric 44. If desired, any overfill of the dielectric 44 can be removed, for example by chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP), to expose the metal rails 40 at a planarized surface.

To contrast the example shown in FIGS. 3 a through 3 d, FIG. 4 a illustrates the first step in forming metal rail-shaped conductors 46 using a Damascene method. First, a layer of photoresist 48 is spun onto a deposited oxide layer 50. As shown in FIG. 4 b, the layer of photoresist 48 is patterned. An etch step then forms trenches 52 in the oxide layer 50. In FIG. 4 c, after removal of the photoresist layer 48, the layer of metal 46 is deposited to fill the trenches 52, and the overfill removed, for example by CMP, to form the rails 46, shown in FIG. 4 d.

In the embodiment of the '030 patent, shown in FIG. 1, the bottom conductors 28 and the top conductors 26 are formed by subtractive methods. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to form these conductors using a Damascene method.

The junction diodes 22 extend generally between these two conductors 26, 28 (there may be layers intermediate between the junction diodes 22 and the two conductors 26, 28). The junction diodes 22 are prone to fail due to should a portion of a photoresist or hard mask layers fail to adhere or peel during the fabrication steps. This failure may occur during the etching and forming steps. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 a, a layer of dielectric hard mask 54 generally exists between the layer of photoresist 56 and a layer of metal hard mask 58. The metal hard mask 58 may be fabricated from tungsten. Alternatively, a tungsten composite or alloy can be used.

A hard mask is an etched layer that serves to pattern the etch of an underlying layer(s); if all of the photoresist has been consumed, the layers of hard mask 54, 58 can provide the pattern in its stead. The use of porous low-k layers, in addition to the reduced dimensions of electrical components being fabricated, requires the presence of the metal hard mask 58. A metal hard mask 58 provides the best protection against resist poisoning, and works well for the porous low-k films. In the embodiment shown, a layer of dielectric anti-reflective coating 60 (DARC) may be used to facilitate the fabrication of the junction diodes 22. The DARC layer 60 prevents off-axis erosion of the photoresist layer 56 that may otherwise occur during subsequent processing steps due to the reflection of light in the etching process.

Below the layer of metal hard mask 58 is a layer of interface material 62. Because the metal hard mask 58, dielectric hard mask 54 and photoresist 56 layers are required for a plurality of fabrication steps, they tend to break away from the silicon layers, discussed subsequently, that are being formed into the junction diodes 22. This results in the failure of forming the pillar structures thereunder. The interface layer 62 is a thin adhesive layer that is applied to the structure between the dielectric 54 and metal 58 hard mask layers. The interface layer 62 provides sufficient adhesion to prevent the etched hard mask and photoresist from breaking from the layer of metal hard mask layer 58. The interface layer 62 adheres or glues the dielectric hard mask layer 54 to the metal hard mask layer 58 during subsequent fabrication, which enhances the productivity and quality of the memory device being manufactured. Because the interface layer 62 is conductive, it and the metal hard mask layer 58 may remain in or on the device without affecting the performance of the memory device being manufactured, should it be desired to leave it or ignore it during subsequent processing steps. The interface layer 62, fabricated from titanium nitride or tungsten nitride using standard reactive PVD and/or CVD methods, will be discussed in greater detail subsequently.

Below the layer of metal hard mask 58 is a layer of adhesive 64 which aids in the adhesion between the layer of metal 58 and a layer of antifuse material 66, disposed below the layer of metal hard mask 58. The layer of antifuse material 66 is used for the purpose of forming the dielectric rupture antifuse 24, discussed above. In many embodiments, the material used to create the layer of adhesive 64 between the layer of metal hard mask 58 and the layer of antifuse material 66 is TiN.

Directly below the layer of antifuse material 66 are three layers of silicon 68, 70, 72. The three layers of silicon 68, 70, 72 include the heavily doped layer of silicon 68, an intermediate layer of silicon 70, which is undoped or lightly doped, and another heavily doped layer of silicon 72. Each of these layers 68, 70, 72 are used in the fabrication of the heavily doped semiconductor layer 30, intermediate layer 32 and heavily doped semiconductor layer 34, all of which form the vertically oriented junction diode 22, discussed in greater detail above. A subsequent layer of adhesive 74, typically TiN, is deposited below the layers of silicon 68, 70, 72.

The bottom of the device includes a layer of conductors 28. The conductors 28 are fabricated from tungsten, or an alloy thereof, and are fabricated using one of the methods discussed above. Spacers 78, made of an inert material such as silicon dioxide, separate the conductors from each other. While the bottom layer of adhesive 74 may extend between each of the conductors 28 and spacers 78, it is typically not present unless the layer of conductors 28 are fabricated using the Damascene method.

The structure described above in the paragraphs immediately preceding is the structure that will be used to form the junction diodes 22. The first step of the fabrication process is shown in FIG. 5 b. In this step the layer of photoresist 56 is patterned to create a mask 80. The photoresist mask 80 will be used to pattern the hard mask layer 54 and the layers disposed therebelow.

Referring to FIG. 5 c, the structure is further processed by etching away the DARC layer 60, the dielectric hard mask layer 54, the metal hard mask 58 and the interface layer 62. The remaining portions of these layers 54, 58, 60, 62 and the photoresist mask 80 form sacrificial columns 82 and are present and used to form the junction diodes 22. These sacrificial columns 82 define a mask pattern for subsequent etching steps. In order to maximize the performance of the process, the interface layer 62 is used to reduce the number of sacrificial columns 82 that are destroyed, detached, peel off or fall off prior to the time in which the sacrificial columns 82 are no longer needed and can be removed. By retaining the sacrificial columns 82 until they are no longer needed provides for a higher percentage of the desired junction diodes 22 being formed during the fabrication process. The examples set forth below help illustrate the effectiveness of incorporating the interface layer 62 into the structure. The interface layer 62 is required to not interfere with the top conductors 26 being formed thereunder so as to not require an additional processing step to remove the interface layer 62 before subsequent finishing steps.

The addition of an interface layer 62 to maintain the sacrificial columns 82 in place is counter-intuitive because the sacrificial columns 82 are eventually removed. But, premature removal, for whatever reason, reduces the effectiveness and efficiency of the production pillars or junction diodes 22. The interface layer 62 increases the efficiency of production while allowing for subsequent removal of the sacrificial columns 82.

EXAMPLE 1

The thickness of the interface layer 62 may be in a range between five and ten nanometers, inclusive. The range of widths of the pillars after the clean portion of the fabrication process may be between 53 nm and 69 nm when the interface layer 62 is fabricated from titanium nitride. With respect to this example of the invention, the titanium nitride interface layer 62 may have a ratio of titanium and nitrogen as approximately 1:1. None of the junction diodes 22 fell from the hard mask layer 54 and peeling did not occur.

EXAMPLE 2

The thickness of the interface layer 62 may be in a range between five and ten nanometers, inclusive. The range of the widths of the pillars after the clean portion of the fabrication process may be between 72 nm and 80 nm when the interface layer 62 is fabricated from tungsten nitride. In this example, a nitrogen flow of 43% was present. None of the junction diodes 22 fell from the hard mask layer 54 and peeling did not occur.

Referring to FIG. 5 d, the metal hard mask 58 is etched. The metal hard mask 58 may be etched in a separate step from the other layers due to the differences in the chemistry needed when etching the metal hard mask 58.

After the metal hard mask 58 has been etched, the junction diodes 22 are formed, as is shown in FIG. 5 e. A single etch step forms the dielectric rupture antifuses 24, as well as converts all three layers of silicon 68, 70, 72 into the junction diodes 22 having the heavily doped semiconductor layer 30, the intermediate layer 32 and the heavily doped semiconductor layer 34, as are discussed in greater detail above.

Once the junction diodes 22 and the dielectric rupture antifuses are formed, there is no longer any need for the sacrificial columns 82. These are removed using traditional ash methods. Referring to FIG. 5 f, a portion of the sacrificial columns 82 is removed, along with the adhesive layer 74 disposed between the junction diodes 22.

Referring to FIG. 5 g, the final step in the formation of the junction diodes 22, disposed between the etched metal hard mask 58 and bottom 28 conductors, is performed. The dielectric rupture antifuse 24 is disposed between the junction diodes 22 and the etched metal hard mask 58. The remainder of the sacrificial column 82 (the interface layer 62 and the remainder of the layer of hard mask 54) are removed using chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) steps. The layer of hard mask 58 serves as a stop for the CMP process.

Once the junction diodes 22 have been created in pillar form (similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the space around the junction diodes is filled with material 85 similar to that of the hard mask 54. This material is non-conductive and provides structural support for the junction diodes 22 throughout the life thereof. Conductive rails (not shown), similar to the top conductors 26, discussed above, are then formed over the junction diodes 22 and are electrically connected thereto through the layer of metal hard mask 58. This step completes the circuit for the junction diodes 22 and the memory cells created thereby.

Throughout this description, one layer has been described as being “above” or “below” another. It will be understood that these terms describe the position of layers and elements relative to the substrate upon which they are formed, in most embodiments a monocrystalline silicon wafer substrate; one feature is above another when it is farther from the wafer substrate, and below another when it is closer. Though clearly the wafer, or the die, can be rotated in any direction, the relative orientation of features on the wafer or die will not change. In addition, the widths of the layers shown are not to scale and are only shown here for illustrative purposes.

The methods for forming the conductors are more fully disclosed in a patent application entitled “Conductive Hard Mask to Protect Patterned Features During Trench Etch,” having U.S. Ser. No. ______, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure in which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. 

1. A semiconductor wafer assembly comprising: a base of dielectric; a layer of silicon deposited over said base of dielectric; a layer of metal hard mask material deposited over said layer of silicon; a layer of dielectric hard mask material deposited over said layer of metal hard mask material; a layer of photoresist deposited over said layer of metal hard mask material, whereby a plurality of sacrificial columns are formed from said layer of metal hard mask material through said layer of photoresist such that said plurality of sacrificial columns extend out from said layer of silicon; and an interface layer disposed between said layer of metal hard mask material and said layer of dielectric hard mask material to enhance adhesion between said layer of metal hard mask and said layer of dielectric hard mask material to optimize the formation of junction diodes out of the layer of silicon by preventing the plurality of sacrificial columns from being detached from said layer of hard mask material.
 2. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of sacrificial columns defines a column cross-sectional area.
 3. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said interface layer defines an interface cross-sectional area coaxial with each of said plurality of sacrificial columns after said interface layer is etched.
 4. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said column cross-sectional area equals said interface cross-sectional area.
 5. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of sacrificial columns is aligned with each of said interface cross-sectional areas.
 6. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said interface layer defines a thickness within a range between five and ten nanometers.
 7. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said interface layer is fabricated from a composition consisting of tungsten and nitrogen.
 8. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said interface layer is fabricated from a composition consisting of titanium and nitrogen.
 9. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the ratio of titanium and nitrogen in said interface layer is approximately 1:1.
 10. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said column cross-sectional area defines a diameter in a range between fifty three and sixty nine nanometers.
 11. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 11 including a plurality of pillars formed under each of said plurality of sacrificial columns.
 12. A semiconductor wafer assembly comprising: a base of dielectric; a layer of silicon deposited over said base of dielectric; a layer of metal hard mask material deposited over said layer of silicon; a layer of dielectric hard mask deposited over said layer of metal hard mask material; a layer of photoresist deposited over said layer of dielectric hard mask material, whereby a plurality of sacrificial columns are formed from said layer of metal hard mask material through said layer of photoresist such that said plurality of sacrificial columns extend out from said layer of silicon; and an interface layer within a range between five and ten nanometers and disposed between said layer of metal hard mask material and said layer of dielectric hard mask material to enhance adhesion between each of said layer of hard mask material and said layer of dielectric hard mask material to optimize the formation of junction diodes out of the layer of silicon by preventing the plurality of sacrificial columns from being detached from said layer of silicon.
 13. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said interface layer is fabricated from a composition consisting of titanium and nitrogen.
 14. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein the ratio of titanium and nitrogen in said interface layer is approximately 1:1.
 15. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said column cross-sectional area defines a diameter in a range between fifty three and sixty nine nanometers.
 16. A semiconductor wafer assembly comprising: a base of dielectric; a layer of silicon deposited over said base of dielectric; a layer of metal hard mask material deposited over said layer of silicon; a layer of dielectric hard mask material deposited over said hard mask material; a layer of photoresist deposited over said layer of dielectric hard mask material, whereby a plurality of sacrificial columns are formed from said layer of metal hard mask through said layer of photoresist such that said plurality of sacrificial columns extend out from said layer of silicon; and an interface layer fabricated from a composition consisting of tungsten and nitrogen and disposed between said layer of metal hard mask material and said layer of dielectric hard mask material to optimize the formation of junction diodes out of the layer of silicon by preventing the plurality of sacrificial columns from being detached from said layer of silicon.
 17. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said interface layer defines a diameter in a range between seventy two and eighty nanometers.
 18. A semiconductor wafer assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said each of said sacrificial columns defines a column cross-sectional area in a range between fifty three and sixty nine nanometers.
 19. A method of fabricating a semiconductor wafer assembly having a dielectric base and a plurality of pillars extending out therefrom, the method comprising the steps of: depositing a layer of silicon on a set of conductors; depositing a layer of metal hard mask material over the layer of silicon; depositing a layer of interface material on the layer of metal hard mask material; depositing a layer of dielectric hard mask material on the layer of interface material; depositing a layer of photoresist on the layer of dielectric hard mask material; applying a photo mask to the semiconductor wafer assembly; etching away a portion of the photoresist to create photo mask; etching away a portion of the dielectric hard mask material and the interface material; and etching away a portion of the metal hard mask material to create the plurality of sacrificial columns with the layer of interface material between the layer of metal hard mask and the layer of dielectric hard mask to prevent the plurality of sacrificial columns from detaching from the layer of tungsten prematurely.
 20. A method as set forth in claim 19 including the step of etching the layer of conducting material using the plurality of sacrificial columns as a mask pattern.
 21. A method as set forth in claim 20 including the step of etching the layer of silicon using the plurality of sacrificial columns as a mask pattern to form a plurality of junction diodes.
 22. A method as set forth in claim 21 including the step of removing the sacrificial columns.
 23. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein the step of removing the sacrificial columns includes the step of removing the layer of interface material from the layer of metal hard mask material.
 24. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the step of depositing a layer of interface material includes the use of titanium nitride as the interface material.
 25. A method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the step of depositing a layer of interface material includes the use of tungsten nitride as the interface material. 